Spud structure



Aug. 4, 1936. G. F. DRIEMEYER SPUD STRUCTUR Filed June 14, 1954 8Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 4, 1936. G. F; DRIEMEYER SPUIQv STRUCTURE Filed June14, 1954 B Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 4, 1936. v G. F. DRI'EMEYER 4 2,049,605

SPUD STRUCTURE FiledJuhe 14, 1954 e sheets-smet 4 ug. 4, 1936. G. F.DRIEMEYER sPUD STRUCTURE 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 v Filed June 14, 1954 Aug- 4,1936 G. F. DRIEMEYER Y 2,049,605

SPUD STRUCTURE Filed June 14, 1954 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 ug- 4, 1936- G. F.DRI-:MEYEYR SPUD STRUCTURE 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed v June 14`, 1954vPatented Aug. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES ATENT oFFicE SPUD STRUCTUREApplication June 14, i934, serial No. 730,547

5 Claims.

This invention relates to spuds for supporting and anchoring dredges,derricks, drill boats, and similar vessels during operation of thedigging or lifting mechanism.

SpudsY utilized to support the boat hull are subjected to verysubstantial compressive as well as bending -forces due to weight ofboat, thrust of dipper, currents and cross tides. The spud usually has atapering lower extremity which is imbedded inthe bottom of the body ofwater. Frequently only a single spud is used as an anchor about whichthe boat is permitted to swing .due t'o wind and currents. Where raisingand lowering mechanism prevents rotation of the spud within its bearingsin the boat hull, swinging of the vessel applies twisting forces to thespud and also tends to loosen the imbedding of the -same in the bottomand, lif the bottom is hard or rocky, causes wearing of the spud point.

An object of the present invention is to provide a rugged, durable spudstructure which is well adaptedto resist the variousforces appliedthereto, as referred to above, and in which the metal is disposed mosteconomically according to stresses carried by various portions .of thespud but without excessively increasing the weight thereof. n

Another object is to provide means rigidly associated with the spud forapplying longitudinal forces thereto during raising and lowering andwhile. supporting the boat hull.

Another object is to eliminate twisting forces on Ythe spudas well aswearing of the point thereof, due to swinging of the boat, by providinga separate point structure which is rotatably mounted in the body of thespud.

Another object is to provide ka spud formed substantially asan integralcast unit with reinforcing structure on the interior thereof.

These objects and others are attained by the structures illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in whichv l Figure 1 is a side view of, theupper half of a spud embodyingone form ofthe invention.

Figure 2 is aside view showingthe lower half of the spud. A

Figure 3 is a top View of the spud.

Figures 4 and 5 are horizontal sections taken on the correspondingsection lines of Figures l land 2, respectively. f

Figure 6 is a vertical section showing the lower extremity ofthe Spudand taken on the line 6-6 of Figure`5.

Figures 7 and 8 are horizontal sections taken I on the correspondingsection lines of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a longitudinal section illustrating the lower part of amodified form of the invention and taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 10.

Figure 10 is a side view of the modified spud.

Figure 11 is a horizontal section taken on the 5 line ll-ll of Figure10.

Figure 12 is a section corresponding to- Figur 11 but showing anothermodification.

Figure 13 is a side View showing the top portion of another modication.l

Figure 14 is a longitudinal section taken on the line M M of Figure 13.

Figures 15 and 17 are horizontal sections taken on the correspondingsection lines of Figure 13.

Figure 16 is a topview of the structure in 15 Figure 13. f Y

Figure 18 is a section similar to Figure 17 but showing anothermodication.

Figure 19 is a longitudinal section of a spud provided Awith amanipulating rack, the section 20 being taken on line |9-l9 of'Figure20.

Figure 20 is a transverse section taken on line 2li- 20 of Figure 19.

Figures 21, 22, and 23 are typical transverse sections illustratingother modifications.

Figure 24 is a section taken on line 24-24 of Figure 22 and showing therack teeth. e

Figure 25 is a general view of a dredge illustrating the spuds inoperation.

Figure 26 is a detail longitudinal section taken 30 on line 26-26 ofFigure 28 and illustrating the middle portion of another form of spud.

Figure 27 is a transverse section taken on the line 21-21 of Figure 26.

Figure 28 is a side View of the form shown in 35 Figure 26.

Figures 29 and 30 are side views at 90 degrees to each otherillustrating Vthe upper portion of still another form of the spud,portions being broken away for clearer disclosure.

Figures 31 and 32 are transverse sections taken on the correspondingsection lines of Figure 30.

Figures 33 and 34 are a longitudinal section and a side View,respectively of another modication.

Figure 35 is a top view of the same, the retaining clip and rack beingomitted.

Figure 36 is a detail side view of the same taken at degrees to Figure34. 50

Figures 37 to 42, inclusive, are typical transverse sectionsillustrating various forms of spuds.

Figure 43 is a longitudinal section showing the lower portion of aspudsimilar in some respects to that in Figures 33 to 36.

Figure 44 is a side view of the same taken at right angles to Figure 43.

Figures 45 and 46 are a longitudinal section and a side view,respectively, of another modincation.

Figures 47 and 48 are horizontal sections taken on the correspondingsection lines of Figure 46.

In Figures 1 to 8 is illustrated a spud formed in its entirety as anintegral hollow casting with outer wall I of Vcylindrical contour.Extending across the interior of the structure at intervalsV are thediaphragms 2 having central apertures 3 to facilitate casting and tolighten the structure and also to permit a workman to enter the interiorfor inspection and repair purposes. At the lower extremity is anunusually long tapering fluted portion 4 terminating in a conical point5 for imbedding in the water bottom being dredged.

The outer wall I gradually increases in` thickness from each end of thespud towards. the center, to resist bending stresses in the structurewhich are greatest in the intermediate portion, and decrease graduallytowards the ends. Apertures 6 provided in the wall at intervals forVenting gases, supporting cores, and to facilitate cleaning out thecores after casting, are closed by plates 1 welded in place whereby thespud is water-tight.

This type of spud is adapted to rotatably engage a suitable bearing inthe boat hull so as to remain stationary during swinging of the hull.The spud is lowered and raised by means of a cable (not shown), or othersuitable means. No means is provided for supporting the hull on thespud.

In Figures. 9, 10, and l1, the spud includes an approximatelycylindrical body portion 8 having a flattened side 9 for slidablyengaging, a bearing in the boat hull to prevent rotation of the spud inthe bearing, and integral teeth I9 forming al internal cylindricalbearings II and I2 having liners I3 and I4. Rotatably seated in bearingsII and I2 are the complementary bearings lI5 and I6 on the upper portionof the fluted tapering point member I1. i

Extending around the lower point bearing I6 is a shoulder I8 abutting adownwardly facing shoulder on the liner I4. A bar I9 secured to the topof the point structure by plate 29 and screw 2I, overlaps the upwardlyfacing shoulder formed by the bearing II and liner I3.Y Shoulder I8 andbar I9 cooperate'to maintain the body and point portions securelyassembled, while permitting free rotation between these parts. By meansof the novel rotating point, the rack may be permanently geared to itsoperating mechanism and the boat may freely swing about the spud withoutapplying twisting stresses to the spud or affecting the imbedded pointthereof.

Figure 12 is a section of a spud similar to that in Figures 9 to 11. Thebody portion 22 in this form has at sides 23 and 24 disposed at 180 toeach other, one of which engages a hull guide and the other of whichmounts a separate rack 25 by means of bolts 25.

Figures 13 to l1 show the upper portion of a' spud of generallycylindrical shape but having K Extending through the upper part of thespud is a narrow recess 28 receiving the sheave wheel 29.l The axle 39of the sheave wheel is rotatably mounted in cylindrical bearings 3| atthe sides of recess 28, the assembly being maintained by plates 32bolted over the ends of the axle. Projecting above the top wall 33 isthe integral lifting lug 34.

The spud is lowered by means of a cable 35, one end of which may befastened to the hull and the other end wound up on a drum operated by anengine or motor. In lifting the spud, the lug 34 is engaged by a hookand cable controlled by derrick or other power controlled mechanism.

In Figure 18, theat guide portions 36 of the spud wall are reinforced bylongitudinal internal ribs 31.

Figures 19 and 20 illustrate a spud having the rack separately formed.The spud is raised and lowered by means of a rack 38 and pinion 39operated by an engine on the hull. The rack 38 is secured in a recess 40`on one side of the spud by means'of 4bolts 4I.- Teeth 42 of the rack donot project beyond the side portions or bearing guides 43 of the wall 44and, therefore, it is not necessary to enlarge thebearings in the boatto clear the rack. Blocks 45 are inserted below and above the rack 38 torelieve bolts 4I of vertical loads. A rib 48 on the inside of wall 44reinforces the latter adjacent to the rack.

Y Figure 21 illustrates a form somewhat similar to that shown in Figure20, and includes a plane wall 41 extending from side to side andreinforced by rib 48` and upon which the rack 49 is mounted. Angularside membersV or guides 59, braced by ribs 5I, extend ush with the outeredges of the rack teeth. In this construction, forces transferred fromthe rack to the wall 41 are carried directly'to the side walls 52instead of to the guides 43, as in Figure 20.

Figures 22 and 24 illustrate another modification in which the rack 53is formed integral with a wall ofthe spud, the side portions 54 of whichwall are flush with the extremities of the rack teeth `and serve asbearing guides.' This simplies and decreases the weight. of thestructure.

Figure 23 illustrates another form of spud having the rack 55 formedintegral and includes restricted pinion bearings 56 on each side of therack and inside the bearing guides 51.l

Figure 25 illustrates aY dredge of the clipper type utilizing spuds v58mounted in bearings 59, 69, and 6I on the hull 62 and body of the boat.The restricted ends 63 of the spuds are shown imbedded in the bottombeing dredged. Each spud is raised and lowered by means of a pinion 54,preferably power operated, engaging rack 65.

In'A Figures 26, 27, and 28 is' shown a portion near the middle of aspud having a narrow recess 66 receiving. a sheave wheel 61. The axle 68is seated in bearings 69 at the sides of recess 66 and the shaft andwheel are maintained in position by means of'plates (not shown) seatedin recesses 10 in the spud walls at the ends of the axle. Wheel 61 isutilized in raising the spud by means of a cable 1I passingiaround thewheel and operated from a hullas in the case of the rope 35 in Figure13. If desired, the spud may be provided with a pair of sheave wheels,one below and one above the hull, and these may be utilized in bothraising and lowering the spud.

Extending over the recess 66 on'one side is an 4apron 12 formed integralwith the adjacent wall and open at the top for the cable 1I. At 75 theopposite side are a pair of ribs 13 on each side of the recess to whichis secured a plate'14. Apron 12 and plate 14 protect the rope and sheavewheel bearing from gritty or sharp objects which may be washed towardsthe spud, especially during digging.

In Figures 29 to 32, the spud is formed of two integral sections. Thelower or main section at its upper end is slotted, as at 15, theportions at the sides of the slot including bearings 16 for the uppersheave wheel. These bearings are braced by ribs 11, 18, and 19. Thesidewalls 89 of the lower casting are continued a short distance abovethe bearings 16, as at 8|, and form bolting surfaces for attachment tothe lower end of the walls 82 of the extension casting. Immediatelybelow the bearings 16 is a transverse bracing web 83, and longitudinalribs 84 merge therewith. `The extension member has bifurcations r85 atthe upper end arranged for mounting the upper sheave wheel and has anupper manhole opening 89 and is braced by transverse webs 88. The walls92 at their lower ends form bolting surfaces for attachment to thecorresponding surfaces on the upper end of the main portion of the spud,previously described. The side walls of both the extension and mainportions of the Spud are provided with spaced longitudinal bearingsforming runways 89 and 99. The opening 86 and the substantial apertures9| in transverse webs 39 and B8 are for admitting a workman into theinterior of the Spud. Suitable lubrication conduits (not shown) may beextended along the interior of the spud to the sheave wheels andsupported by the webs 88 in suitable brackets on the walls of the spud.

The main portion yof the spud is adapted to be used without theextension and has sheave wheel bearings and a sheave wheel openingtowards 'its lower extremity which are preferably constructed as inFigures 26, 27, and 28 with protecting aprons. Opposing walls of theextension casting at the lower end have slots 92 and 93 clearing thesheave wheel opening in the lower section and the bearings for theshaft, respectively, so that if desired the sheave wheel may be mountedat the joint instead of at thetop when the sections are used together oronly the lower section used. However, the slots 92 and 93 may beeliminated, in which case the attachment of the extension wouldnecessitate the removal of the upper sheave wheel to the top bearings85. The longitudinal recesses between the runways 89 and 99 may beutilized for lubricant conduits as in Figure 42, to be describedhereafter. Y

In Figures 33 to 36, the main body of the spud has a cross sectionsimilar to that shown in Figure 21, including a plane side wall 94 towhich the rack 95 is secured by means of bolts 96 extending through lugs91 and the wall. At the sides of the rack teeth are guide ribs 98 theteeth, ribs, and lugs 91 being preferably formed integral. Guides 99extending along the edge of wall 94 correspond to guides 5|! in Figure21. At each end of the rack receiving part of the wall 94 is a bracket|99 having an inclined surface |9| engaging a wedge |92 inserted betweenthe bracket and the rack. The wedges have slots |03 receiving securingbolts |94.

Brackets are braced by ribs |95, an outer one of which on each bracketis extended outwardly and mounts a retaining clip |96 for additionallysecuring the wedge in position. The

upper edges of the bracing ribs merge with wall 94 adjacent transverseWebs |91, the upper of which is immediately below the top web |68. Webs|61 and |98 Vhave elliptical and rectangular central apertures,respectively. Other bracing webs |99 along the spud correspond to webs|91.

The spud at its lower extremity between the lower bracket |99 and thepoint l i9 is bulged outwardly in the direction perpendicular to wall 94to form a portion i l l similar in cross section to the over-all sectionof the main or body part of the spud including guides 99. Thisfacilitates insertion of the spud intov the hull bearings, alinement ofthe portion ill in the bearings insuring the proper cooperation of thesebearings with the guides 99 and the iianged guide ribs H2.'

Figures 37 to 42, inclusive, are sections correspending substantiallywith Figure 31 and illustrate various forms of spud castings. In Figure37, the casting is vof rectangular section and is provided with interiorlongitudinal and transverse bracing members l i3 and l. The outersurfaces of walls H3 are provided with restricted machined runway orbearing-forming surfaces ||5 for cooperating with complementary bearingson the dredge hull. In Figure 42, lubricating conduits il areillustrated as extending along longitudinal depressions lli! in opposingwalls H9, the depressions |29 in the walls |2| receiving the ropes orcables |252 for raising and lowering the Spud.

In Figure 38, the outer walls |23 of the casting are rectangularlydisposed and are braced by ribs |24 intersecting at right angles. InFigure 39, the rectangular wallslfi ofthe structure are braced by pairsof parallel ribs |29 and |21, the ribs at the center merging with allongitudinal cylindrical member t28. In Figure 41, the centralcylindrical member |29 is substantially larger than the member |29 inFigure 39 and is connected with the rectangular walls |39 of the castingby means of single ribs |3l. The transverse webs |32 are apertured atthe corners for oil conduits 533. In Figure 40, the walls |34 on thesides of the rectangular casting are braced by pairs of ribs |35, 36,|31, |38, each pair being of slightly different shaping. Ribs of any ofthe shapes shown, or any combination thereof, may be used on all foursides.

In each case, suitable cores openings will be provided to facilitatecleaning and inspection of the casting and the various ribs andreinforcing elements may be multiplied, thickened, or otherwise variedaccording to specic requirements. Preferably the outer walls will begradually increased in thickness from the ends of the spud toward thecenter, as in Figures 1 and 19.

The form in Figures 43 and 44 is similar to that in Figures 33 to 36except that the guides .|39 at the sides o-f rack |49 extend downwardlypast the rack abutment lll and merge with the outwardly bulged side wall|42 of the spud tip. This arrangement further facilitates the insertionof the spud into its guides on the boat hull. The rack is shown asdirectly engaging the abutment bracket itil but a wedge similar tothewedges |92 in Figures 33 to 36 will preferably be used at the top, onlyone wedge being necessary to firmly secure the rack in position.

In Figures 45 to 48 is shown a spud particularly adapted for use at therear end of a drill boat, dredge, or similar vessel where it isdesirable to swing the front end of the boat around a single spud at therear end. This is effected by walking spuds having broad shoes toprevent the spuds becoming imbedded in the water bed. To facilitaterotation of the Spud when the tip is buried in the water bed, agradually tapering conical tip |43 is provided at the lower extremity ofthe rectangular body portion |44 of the spud. The extreme lower end |45of the tip is pointed to permit the tip to penetrate hard botto-mmaterial such as gravel and rock. Where the tip and body of the spud arerigid, the integral formation of the parts is particularly advantageousin resisting torsional strains.

In each of the forms, metal may be most advantageously disposed in thevarious walls, and in the reinforcing ribs and diaphragms or transversewebs in order to provide reinforcement commensurate with thecompressive, bendn ing and torsional forces to be resisted. It isespecially desirable to gradually increase the thickness of the sidewalls from the ends to the intermediate portion, as most clearlyillustrated in Figures l and 2 and 19 in order to resist bending forces.Figures 29, 30, 33, 34, 43 and 44 also embody this feature. This is animprovement over previous structures which include shorter platesriveted or welded to the main plates to increase the metal thickness atpoints of greatest stress. At the ends of the shorter plates, sharpchanges in stress are produced which tend to concentrate deflection atthese points. With the gradually increasing metal thickness, deflectionis gradually distributed throughout the walls of the spuds and no excessmetal is required to withstand the forces applied at various pointsalong the Spud. In Figures 9 and 10, and 45 and 46, means is providedfor substantially decreasing or eliminating the torsional forcesproduced in certain types of spuds when the vessel is swinging around.

Various details of the illustrated structures are not essential andthese may be varied as will occur to those skilled in the art to whichthe invention pertains, and the exclusive use of all such modificationsas come within the scope of the appended claims is contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. An integral box-section Spud of the class described having rackelements on one side, guides on said side with portions in alinementwith the walls merging with said side, and a reinforcing elementextending along said side in alinement with said rack elements.

2. The combination of a spud of the class described comprising anintegral cast metal unit including spaced longitudinally extendingguides for engaging the bearings in the supporting hull, transversereinforcing ribs between said guides and the wall of the spud, and arack for said spud located between said guides.

3. In a spud of the class described, an elongated body portion, rackstructure on one side wall thereof, and guides at the sides of saidstructure for engaging boat hull bearings, said guides terminating shortof the end of the spud and the portion of said spud beyond said guidesbeing bulged outwardly and having parts approximately flush with all ofsaid guides.

4. In a spud of the class described, a body mernbei' having a hollowportion adjacent one end thereof and longitudinal guides projecting fromsaid body, said hollow portion being bulged outwardly and flush withsaid guides, and a guide rib between said body member and said bulgedportion.

5. Structure as specified in claim 4 in which said guides, bulgedportion, and rib are flush and adapted to engage boat hull guides tofacilitate insertion of the Spud therein.

G. FRED DRIEMEYER.

